2011 Dallas Mavericks Road to the NBA Finals

Synopsis : Entering the 2011 season, the Dallas Mavericks franchise and its roster of veterans had never tasted the glory of an NBA championship. Fueled by their intense hunger to win, and bonded by their collective pursuit of success, the Mavericks finally reached the pinnacle of their sport. Led by NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas upset the Miami Heat to complete a stirring drive to the 2011 NBA crown. After three first round playoff exits in the previous four years, many underestimated the Mavericks when the season began. But with a quiet determination, Dallas once again emerged as contenders in the West with 57 regular season victories. In the postseason, they overcame the Portland Trail Blazers before toppling the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in a stunning sweep, and went on to defeat the young Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling Western Conference finals. In the NBA Finals, the Mavericks avenged their 2006 defeat to Miami, as Nowitzki, their long-time superstar, carried his team past Miami’s celebrated Big 3 to finally capture the elusive championship.